This Is Us

So here is an update on Xander's foot... We have been keeping the burn cream, gauze, and the No Hurt tape, on. It was starting to get infected, it was all pussy and gross looking, so we started keeping a sock on it with all the bandage stuff underneath... and Nick and Dieter gave him a blessing. Silly Us... why didn't we think of that when it first happened??? I don't know why we didn't, but now that he's had a blessing it is looking so much better and he is doing so much better! He was walking on his toes for awhile, and we were carrying him around because we were afraid to put shoes on him, but now he's walking mostly normal again and we can get shoes on him. We ask him how it's feeling and he says "It's Okay". He has been very good about keeping all the bandage stuff, and a sock on it. We are glad that he has been such a big boy about this! Thanks Xander... Great Job!!! We Love You!!!... I know we can't leave out our princess... We Love ...

So today I had my first Physical Therapy appointment for my back and neck. I was in a car accident over a month ago, and they just are not getting better. The therapist had me do some stretches, he pushed on my muscles to find out where they are the most sore, and talked to me about the injuries. He said it will probably take 8-10 weeks for the muscles and joints to heal most of the way. He gave me some stretches that I have to do 4-5 times a day... yep while I'm at work, to help relax the muscles so that he can start doing the strengthening exercises. I'm just waiting for my co-workers to come back while I'm doing them and give me the look like... Are you working, or doing Yoga??? Yeah, that will be great! Anyway... He also gave me a belt to wear, under my clothes. It helps, but it makes my hips and waist look twice the size they really are! But, I can't wait for all the pain and annoying numbness to go away!

So last night I got home from work at around 5:30. I decide that I have some time to relax, before dinner. So I sit and rest for a minute, then play games with the kids, go downstairs and see the progress of the unfinished basement getting finished, and flirt with Nick. Then before I know it, it's 7:30 and we haven't even thought about dinner yet. So I am looking through the pantry and the fridge trying to find something that will be quick and easy to make. I finally decide to make Tuna Noodle, but then I get an idea to turn it into a casserole. I cooked the Macaroni noodles until they were soft. Drained the water, then added the Tuna and Cream of Chicken Soup to the noodles. I also added some Onion Powder and some Pepper. I put that into a glass pan, which I sprayed with Pam. Topped it with Mozzarella Cheese and Ritz Crackers. I baked it at 350 for about 10 minutes. I was afraid of how it would taste, since I just made it up and as most of you know... I just started cooking a ...

Yesterday we were on our way to my mom's cousin's house to see family that we haven't seen for a long time, and the kids asked where we were going. I told them to a cousin's house and then they asked the cutest thing... Are we going to Alaska to get Alyssa and Brendan and bring them home? I started to cry and told them that first off they weren't cousins, and second Alaska was hundreds of miles away and would take us days to get there. They said so, we miss Alyssa and Brendan. We want them to come back. I told them that I did too, but they couldn't. Even though Salt Lake was their home, they had to live in Alaska for a little bit longer, and then they would come home to us.

So we went over to my parent's house for a BBQ. We got over there about 6:30 or 7:00... and there was nowhere to park. They have the whole circle to themselves, but there were so many people there, we couldn't find a parking spot. I'm guessing there was about 40 or 50 people, maybe more. WOW huh?!?!?! It was really fun... Everyone got blankets, chairs, and we sat outside in their HUGE yard, and watched fireworks. After the fireworks the kids tackled Michael and Eric and Nick was running around with them on his shoulders. They were having so much fun. Then they found the ATV helmets and were wearing those around... it was great! We didn't leave till about 12:00. It was our last night with Alyssa and Brendan... they fly back to Alaska... so we were trying to get as much time with them as we could. We Love You guys so much, and we wish you could stay. We had a great 24th, other then Xander's foot.

Poor little Xander... It was the night of July 23rd, all the kids were playing with sparklers. The sparklers started curling and breaking off... come to find out they were wood. Why in the world would they make wood ones??? STUPID!!! So Jake (Matt & Mieshka's son) gets a little burned by one... Then our poor little Xander man. He was moving it around, doing circles. A piece dropped off and landed right into his flip flop. He can't get it off, because there is elastic on the back, as I'm running over there, he starts screaming louder. I try to run faster, but it feels like one of those dreams... You run and run and run but don't seem to move, so you try to run faster, and seem to get now where faster... I finally get to him, tell him to through the sparkler down and yank his shoe off. I can see this huge burned hole in his foot. I yell for Colleen, we run in the house and quickly put a COLD napkin on it. Colleen then looks at it again, and says that it's worse t...

Okay, so the past couple of weeks I've had to run my space heater because it's freezing in my office... Well mostly just back by my desk (of course). The only person in my entire office who can't stand to be cold, and has the worst circulation ever. Yes, that says 69 degrees. I feel like my toes are going to fall off, I can't type because my fingers won't move, and I feel like I should be wearing a ski coat and gloves. I can't believe that I am running a heater in July. Although I can usually make it till about 11:00 but by then I have just had enough and I have to turn it on. I get teased for having it going, but I can't help it. It's FREEZING!!! Why do offices have to be the opposite of what is outside... It makes us have to run a fan in the winter because it's to hot and a heater in the summer because it's too cold. What is up with that???

So I added a Playlist with some of the songs that we like (it's at the bottom). We really like Garth Brooks, so there are a lot of his songs on there. I'll add more later... Some that the kids really like. We hope you enjoy them! ***UPDATE*** I've added more songs, and now the playlist is almost full.

Nick and the kids came and took me to lunch. We went to Wendy's... it was so much fun! Once we were done eating and started getting into the car, Xander asked if they were taking me home. I said no, I'm going back to work. And he said "AWWW... But I want you to come home with us." It breaks my heart when they do stuff like that. So after they dropped me off they headed home. They were half way there and it just started pouring rain (see picture 1). Nick said there was about 12 inches on the ground and you could barely see through it. He told me it was headed my way, and I was so excited. I love the summer rain. It smells so good, and looks so pretty. It started to come (picture 2) but it passed right over us, without dropping a drop of rain. I am so bummed!

Okay, so the shoes I'm wearing today is a pair that Brichette gave me for my birthday, and they are on my list of Favorites. They are very comfortable, very flattering, and oh so cute! I think they bought them at Mervyn's. Can I just tell you... I love Mervyn's. They have so many cute clothes, shoes, and home decor items, that I can't go in there anymore because I come out spending way to much money. Oh and their kids clothes... I can't stop! My kids usually come out with a whole new wardrobe when I'm done. And don't get me started on The Children's Place. I love it when they have their sales!!! So, I used to love shopping at New York and Company, but they have gotten so stinkin' expensive. Plus the clothes there aren't much different then clothes at Mervyn's, Target, or Sears. By the way... I hate Wal*Mart!!! No one there has any manners, you can't ever find anything, and there is no one that can help you! We stay far away from that pl...

My sister Jessica and her husband Kevin visited us this weekend, and so did Alyssa. It was so much fun. We went four-wheeling Saturday up Farmington Canyon, Sunday (after church) up the canyon by Kamas (east of Park City), and then this morning Jess and Kevin made breakfast for all of us. They really love to cook, and wanted to cook for us... Thanks guys, it was very YUMMY!!! Love You! So, Saturday evening we went to Jake's birthday party, Yes, all dirty and gross but we didn't want to be any later then we already were. I tried to stay away from everyone because I didn't want them to see that I had a Dirt Tan, and smelled like rotting sage brush. We hope we didn't hurt Mieshka, or Jake's feelings by being late! We love you guys!!! Then we went home. We were all so tired, and needed to take showers, and had to get up early for church. So I got the kids all clean and in our bed to watch a movie while Nick and I took a shower. When we got out, they both had fallen asle...

The kids did wonderful at their recital last night. We went over it a couple more times before we left the house, which really helped. They listened to their teacher, didn't get distracted... to bad... and were so cute! Nick, Brichette , Xander , and I picked up Lorena and Alyssa; my parents and Nick's parents met us there. The performance had to be outside, because they were refinishing the floor in the gym. Luckily in the court yard there are cement steps in a half circle, so it looks like a stage, and that's where they danced. Xander's class went first, then Brichette's class. They also had an Irish Dance Class that danced after Brichette's . After they were all done dancing we took these pictures. We were one of the last to leave, and as we were leaving Temria's (their teacher) mother came up to us and told us to "Get Out While You Can!". She said that Temria started dancing when she was Brichette's age, and they spent tons of money, h...

Okay, so tonight the kids have their ballet recital. We are very excited, and a little nervous. They did so well last night at their last class. Although they would get distracted when the other girls wouldn't dance. I think to myself... man I really wish they would just dance. But then I think... No it's okay. They are just little kids and they are having fun, so let them. Plus you don't want to turn into one of those Psycho mom's at a soccer game who are standing up yelling with their arms whaling, spit flying, and their husband next to them hiding his face, because you think they aren't kicking the ball "right". I think some of the moms turn into that because they don't want to see their kids fail, or have their kids laughed at and made fun of from the other kids. But which is worse and will scar them for life... Their mother making a fool of themselves and being yelled at from her or the kids laughing??? My choice... the mother making a fool of her...

So... HE DID IT. He passed the physical tests, but we won't find out about the written tests for a couple weeks. They have to send them off to be "graded". He did 30 push-ups in 30 seconds, 25 sit-ups in 25 seconds, and ran the mile and a half in 10 minutes. He was the first to complete the push-ups and sit-ups, and there were only about 4 people ahead of him in the run. We are going to start running every night, so that he doesn't "die" when he starts the academy. They train for about 4 hours everyday, so he wants to be prepared. I am so very PROUD of him. When he called me after he had finished and told me how well he did, I started crying (I'm crying right now). I knew he could do it! I really look up to him for what he is doing. I don't think there is any way I would be able to do it. Thank You Nicolas for taking these big steps to help our family! You are the best Husband and Father! I am so glad You are Ours!!! I Love You Soul Mate!!!

So Nick is taking the Academy testing right now. It started at 8:00 and will go till about 12:30. He has to take the written and the physical test. I know he will pass, without any problems, but he is really worried about it. I told him not to worry, because anything he puts his mind to, he can do. When he passes the tests he will start the academy the middle of August, I believe. The academy is about 6 weeks and then he will graduate. When he calls me around 12:30, I'll post that he passed, because I know he will. :) I am so excited for our family... this will be great.

So I am crocheting scrunchies for Xander and Brichette's Ballet Recital. I started and finished my first one last night. I am so excited. I think it turned out very nice. Brichette's class will have all pink and Xander's class will have multi-colored. Their teacher is buying Xander some sweat bands, since he doesn't wear scrunchies. My mom and Nick (yes Nick) are helping me. We have to have 15 done by tomorrow night. I think we can do it... My mom is super fast, and I'm getting better at it. This is a picture of the one that I made. If anyone would like some, just let me know. My mom has tons of patterns and they can be made from almost any kind of thread, yarn, etc. Plus they are really fun to make. That is what I will be doing on my lunch today!

We went to Raging Waters on Saturday with our friends; Page, Chevonne, Stephanie and her two kids. We got there early enough that we didn't have to wait in a long line for the tube rides. I took Brichette and Nick took Xander... they had so much fun. Brichette was squealing the whole way down, saying how much fun it was, and Xander was laughing. We would get to the bottom and have to run right back up and go again. It was hard to get them out to go eat lunch. Then we went in the wave pool. The first time we didn't get there soon enough so we were at the end of the waves, and they crashed on us so hard. We kept getting soaked from them hitting our tubes. Brichette and Xander didn't like it there, so once the waves had stopped we moved up to where the waves started, and that was so much better. You just rocked with them, and they liked that. They wanted to stay in there, but I had gotten really burned from sitting in the tube waiting for the waves to start. They are supposed ...

We are so excited. Alyssa and Brendan are coming to Utah for a visit. Their plane arrives today, and they are going to be here for 2 weeks. We are so happy that Alyssa will be staying with us for some of the time, and we wish Brendan would, but we understand that he wants to go to the lake with his family. We have missed them so much. Even Brichette and Xander... When we talk about them coming to visit, they get so excited and say... "I remember them. I miss them." Alyssa and Brendan... We can't wait for you to get here! Love You Two, and Valerie, So Very Much!!! Okay, so a little thing I thought of from what Brichette and Xander said about Missing Alyssa and Brendan... Isn't it funny how children pick up the things you say and the way you say them. Like with Brichette... My mother and I call the children Honey, and she has picked that up. So now when she is talking to Xander, or Joey she says... "Well now Honey, be careful" and says it just the way we do......

Okay, So this is my first post here. So I guess I'll start my blogging with my kids Ballet class last night... Brichette and Xander are taking a ballet class. It's only a 7 week class, and then they have a performance. The class is only 1/2 hour long, so that doesn't give them much time to learn their dance before their performance. They do really good at first, but then they loose interest (the ADHD) and start staring at themselves in the mirror, and following the other kids and not the teacher. We try to help, by yelling (not to loud but loud enough they can hear us) their name and telling them that they need to follow their teacher and do what she does, but we disrupt the class when we do that. Then when they go to get a drink, we have them come over to us and we tell them that they need to be watching the teacher and not themselves or the other kids. That works for a minute, but then they are goofing off again. We are trying to think of other ways to help them listen in...